oil change problems

Sounds like you would have grounds for a case, but inspect your paperwork, they probably have some "we can kill your car and you can't touch us" clause on the receipt you signed.

I once paid $43 for an oil change at the Audi dealership, and a few weeks (and oil puddles in our month old driveway) later found that the oil plug in my Audi was loose enough, I could turn it without the aid of a wrench or socket.


:-?

 

You know it kills me everytime I see a post like this. An oil change is not that hard to do! This is exactly why I do it myself. As far as your issue goes I would suggest getting it fixed ASAP. You really dont want to be driving around while you are dumping oil and possibly damaging the motor from oil starvation.

John

 

Yeah I know. I have changed my oil on every other car that I've owned. I don't know why I decided to let someone else do it. I certainly am kicking myself now.

 

It is also possible they they spilled oil on the frame of the car. There is actually a special "shield" that can be used when changing the oil on an element that will divert spilled oil so that it won't sit on any frame or other pieces underneath the car. We had our mechanic do our oil change the first time and oil got spilled on something which dripped for 2 days, we took it in and they just had to clean the spilled oil off with a rag and the drips were gone. From what I understand it is tricky to take off the filter without dumping the oil I am not sure how hard it could be, but I have heard this multiple times.

 

I have a rule about not gettting my car serviced at the same place i buy my jockeys and tube socks.

I have all 3 of my cars oli changed here at work and never have to worry about oil dripping when they are done.

 

How much you wanna bet they reused the drainplug crush washer?

- Jeff

 

nobody will take the time, and care for your car like YOU!

that said.. i have been tempted to goto 19.99 oil change places... then i read posts like this, and i crawl under and change it myself!

 

Crush Washer

How much you wanna bet they reused the drainplug crush washer?

- Jeff

Jeff, I believe you're right on the mark. I was told in no uncertain terms by the service manager when I purchased my Element that if you plan on getting your oil changed elsewhere, you had better carry around a bag of the crush washers and insist that it be replaced with each and every oil change.

He went so far as to say that even if a Honda dealership does your oil changes, that you should feel perfectly comfortable in asking for the old one back in advance, just for your own peace of mind.

 

Yeah I know. I have changed my oil on every other car that I've owned. I don't know why I decided to let someone else do it. I certainly am kicking myself now.

:-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-(
If you are short on time and you don't want to change your oil yourself, see Kevin at Larkfield Auto. I go to him when I am to busy and he is less expensive than those "ten min or less" people. Of course he takes longer...so maybe this will help.:roll:

 

I also had an issue at Wal Mart. I got the small leak, took it back the next day. The filter they installed had a bad seal. The tech had seen it before. It was a Brand Name filter. We installed a new filter and have been fine since than. We got no grief at all. Everyone there was very apologetic and helpful. Will I go back? Probably. If I didn't have a positional vertigo problem I would change it myself.

 

I'll let you all know what happens this evening. Maybe I'll stop in at Kragen and buy them a dozen or so crush washers for them to keep on hand for Element owners. :-D

 

drain plug crush washers

Jeff, I believe you're right on the mark. I was told in no uncertain terms by the service manager when I purchased my Element that if you plan on getting your oil changed elsewhere, you had better carry around a bag of the crush washers and insist that it be replaced with each and every oil change.

He went so far as to say that even if a Honda dealership does your oil changes, that you should feel perfectly comfortable in asking for the old one back in advance, just for your own peace of mind.

What are these? What do they do? I am getting an oil change soon.

 

What are these? What do they do? I am getting an oil change soon.

The crush washer is an aluminum washer that goes on the drain plusg at the bottom of the oil pan.They are a one use only type washer and should be replaced at every oil change.

 

I'm sorry, it doesn't matter where you get them at. I had this same thing happen, guess what, the dealer did it. Same thing, spots of oil showing up. They "forgot" to replace the crush washer.

So, it really doesn't matter, everyone has bad days/lazy a$$ employees.

 

I got this guy that has been doing my oil changes for 20 years. He is always thorough, uses high quality oil and filters, waits long enough to get all the old out, replaces the washer, double checks he put the new oil in and the filter is seated properly, checks the dipstick before he starts the engine, cleans up any oil he inadvertently spilled on the block. His name is ME.

I highly recommend him!!

No I am not going to change your oil

 

So.

Brought the E in again. Waited about 20 minutes until they could take a look at it. Made the mistake of wearing a red North Face vest and browsing the magazine rack. Never wear a red vest in Walmart. "No ma'am, I don't work here and I have no idea where the toilet paper is." I retreated back to the service area.

After they cleared the other cars out of the work areas they were ready to go to work. But where had my keys disappeared to? Denise the check in girl didn't have them. The guy who moves the vehicles didn't have them. Where could they have gone. After checking inside by the register, outside on every surface, and in other cars that they had moved out of the shop, they finally found my keys inside the oil change pit. This process took about 10 minutes. I just stood there thinking about how the hell I was going to get into my apartment, and what I would do if the alarm in my car never worked again.

Finally they found my keys and moved the car into the shop.

The guy under the E was a new one. So far the same person hasn't been under more than once. This was a huge white guy with a shaved head, tattoos all over his arms and teeth sticking out every direction. I think his name was Balthazar.

Anyway he blamed my problem on the cheap Mexican labor that couldn't follow directions or do anything right. I stood there with my mouth open in disbelief that those words just came out of his rotting mouth.

Then he had Denise take a hose and pass it down to him so that he could clean of the bottom of the car. Water squirts everywhere and there is a lot of swearing and apologizing going on. The service guy says that everything looks fine and that the people who did the last oil change didn't clean anything up after they did their work.

I thank them and drive away. Fast.

So far no drips or leaks. I'll give updates if anything exciting happens.

:roll:

 

we dont have walmart auto service centers here in connecticut. i would not go there anyway.

 

sounds like a major HOSE job.

i had to.

 

........

The guy under the E was a new one. So far the same person hasn't been under more than once. This was a huge white guy with a shaved head, tattoos all over his arms and teeth sticking out every direction. I think his name was Balthazar. .......

.

:roll:

So have you been to any EOC meets? ....I mean.....well.....this gentleman would fit right in.

Did you ask what he drives?.....He might be a member.

 

There is absolutely no excuse for patronizing Mao-Mart!

 

Problem 1 - going to walmart and expecting quality
Problem 2 - Thinking that bringing it back would fix the problem
Problem 3 - Customer service didn't give you free oil changes for the trouble.

 

Wal-Mart is a scary, scary place... I don't know why 95% of their customers are painted 10 shades of hideous. My apologies to any pug-ugly Wal-Mart customers on here. :razz:

If it were me I would have immediately checked the tightness of both the drain plug and the filter before driving another mile. Glad it all worked out well for you in the end though.

 

I had the drain plug left loose for a quick lube place, I think the dealers in Canada have figured this out they now have a quick oil change service. The total price is more but they change the washer and clean the oil from the frame etc. I would suggest to do it yourself or bring it to the dealer.

 

Problem 3 - Customer service didn't give you free oil changes for the trouble.

Problem# 4 - Getting cupons for free oil changes and actually using them.....

which brings us to

Problem #5 - Going back to them again (free or not)

which likely causes a repeat of the problems mentioned...or worse !


There comes a point in time where you just gotta walk away and say "never again." I make (many)mistakes everyday....but I try to learn from them.

Will

 

Your thread title should be " Say NO to Walmart Oil changes at this Walmart".


Unless you've also had the same experience at the other 4,000.